New here! Name's Darrel.

Hey everyone,

Just joined a few moments ago. I find this website to be quite interesting, as well as helpful!

I've been overweight since I was about eight or nine years old. At first it wasn't that much, just a bit of a pudge tummy. But as I continued to age, my weight continued to become a problem. It wasn't that I ate for comfort or out of boredom. Rather, due to some medical reasons, I just struggle to shed the weight. It can be maddening sometimes!

A couple of years ago college was difficult for me. Classes were across campus and I couldn't walk from one location to the other without my ankles catching on fire. They would be so sore, I would often need to rub them during class and bite back the tears. I would limp across campus. It was embarrassing to straggle behind all my friends, a little out of breath, and so sore all over. I didn't think the weight had changed that for me at all; I had had the pain before when I was 60 pounds lighter. I figured, it had to just be bad ankles. And I did nothing.

Last year I decided I was going to let myself finally have a surgery I need, but I knew that being overweight would cause complications. Determined to become a better weight for my surgery I started working out. Intensely. I reduced my calories to a fair amount and did The Biggest Loser Boot Camp every day (as well as walking 3 to 4 miles on the treadmill). The first month I lost 20 pounds, and I was pretty impressed with myself. But the following two months I did not shed a single pound. Exhausted from working out every day and having no results for it, I gave up as soon as college started up again, and quickly regained 10 of the pounds.

I was afraid of regaining all 20 pounds. I tried, occasionally, to get back into the swing of working out and eating right, but soda was so delicious, and the computer was so shiny. Not to mention I was so drained from school work and emotional issues that I let myself eat what I wanted, when I wanted to. Thankfully I managed to keep the gain under control.

Since I finalized my surgery for this month (September 26th!) I started controlling my food again at the beginning of August. I have been incredibly strict on my food reign, and have to say I'm somewhat impressed with myself! I've lost another 20 pounds (30 from last year) in a month, and I feel like I have the energy and tools to keep going until I reach my goal. I have a short term goal of losing 15 pounds (then I'll be an even 200) before September 26th. Whether or not I actually make that goal, only time will tell. But I have the energy and drive to see it through!

And now I can walk six miles without even noticing it! My ankles no longer complain.

I know that some people say that fast weight loss is a bad thing. But I disagree. It is the best way for me to actually lose weight and stay motivated to keep going. And it seems to be the only way for me to lose weight -- if I eat 90% healthy, and 10% pleasure (like most people on diets), I don't lose anything! Even if I work out! I have to be extreme to get any kind of result. But that's okay; I enjoy the intensity to get to where I'm going. And I'm doing it through healthy food choices and behavioral changes.